posted 26 September 2005 11:34 AM
So, I check back into babble to see a discussion on old Tone, but such discussions are actually quickly becoming irrelevant. Much has been made in the British press about the supposed quarrels between Gordon Brown and Tony Blair. I never really expected Brown to be old Labour or to have some vision for reformulating a real left for today's conditions: he was with Blair and co. from the start and I always believed their differences had more to do with conflicting ambitions than conflicting ideologies. What I'd be *most* interested in is Brown's position on the war in Iraq, and he's kept his cards close to his chest in that regard. This Scotsman article discussing Brown's (almost certain) future leadership of Labour doesn't discuss it. This Guardian article only notes that he's willing to spend as much as is necessary on the army "to protect the British people".
Babblers may recall this old thread about Robin Cook's funeral set the stage for the end of Blair's leadership and start of Brown's.
I hope Mr. Brown is thinking very carefully about the war and about civil liberties at home. If he must sacrifice a hard left position on unions or services, I can almost say, "so be it". It's not like the UK is particularly unique in that regard. But I certainly hope that a change in leadership might mean fewer challenges to the courts about civil liberties and a change in what is probably Labour's least popular position - the UK's presence in Iraq.
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posted 26 September 2005 11:34 AM
